File-case



(No Model.) 4 v D. A. DRAKE.

FILE CASE.

Patented Oct. 23, 1894.

ar/Vidal 276L166,

DAVID A. DRAKE, or ENGLEWOOD, ILLINOIS.

FILE-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,949, dated October 23, 1894.

I Application filed March 7, 1894. Serial No. 602, (N0 l-l To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID A. DRAKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Englewood, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful File- Case, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is specifically related to those file cases or filing appliances wherein a series of compartments are provided and adapted for the reception of papers of a predetermined class; and the primary object of the invention is to so improve the construction of these devices that the papers may be handled with more ease and facility, and at the same time kept more securely.

To this end the invention consists in certain improved mechanism in which a series of cards connected to each other and kept normally closed by a suitable spring are the principal features, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter and finally embodied in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my invention in use. Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the springroller. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the classifying cards.

The reference letter 0. indicates an outer casing or box, in which I prefer to pivotally mount my improvements by means of trunnions a. This box 0. enables the appliance to be easily handled, and by reason of its pivotal mountings the mechanism may be turned to suit the convenience of the operator.

1) indicates the body-portion of my file case, and this is constructed, by preference, of wood, though any material may be used, and is provided with the hinged lid 19' arranged on its bottom, and by which access to the interior may be had.

Arranged within the body I), and revolubly mounted on the brackets c, is the roller 0, which is provided on its interior with the spring 02, whereby it is given a tendency. to revolve to the right. This roller is provided with the ratchet-disk d and pawl e, whereby, when revolved against the tendency of its spring, it may be held at the desired number of revolutions. This mechanism is the same as that commonly used on window-shade rollers, and needs no further description, since those skilled in the'art will readily comprehend its detailed construction and modus operandi. It will be sufiicient for me to say that by its means the rollerc may be revolved any number of times which its spring will permit, and held in any of the positions in which it occurs once in every revolution.

Secured to the roller 0, and winding thereon, from right to left, are the two cords (1 which pass through the openings (1 in the top of the body 6, and are connected at their outer ends to the sides of the wooden plate 6. By this means the plate e may be kept normally in engagement with the pockets between it and the body I) and, when so operated, drawn out any distance which the length of the cords d will permit and allowed to remain at such by the operation of the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism which attends the rollerc.

f indicates the indexing or classifying pockets, and these may be of any number, according to the capacity which it is desired to give the file. These pockets may be formed of leather, tin, or any suitable material, and consist of an envelope-like device having an open end 1', through which the papers to be filed are inserted, and with an open upper side h. By means of the latter opening, h, it is possible to quickly note the contents of the pocket. Secured to each corner of these pockets, so as to hold them at a specific distance from each other, are the guy-cords f, which are preferably four in number, one for each corner, and which have their ends connected to the corners of the plate 6, and to the top of body 1). Thus it will be seen that the pockets f may be compressed closely together when their contents are not being examined, and when it is desired to examine their contents they may be separated by drawing out plate e. A button g is provided and secured to the top of plate e, whereby it may be readily grasped and withdrawn,

To use my invention, the matter to be filed is placed in the pocket f which is adapted therefor and indorsed according to their subject-matter, after which the plate 6 is drawn out momentarily so as to release the pawl e, and allow the spring 61 to revolve the roller 0, and draw the pockets together, thus compressing the papers and filing them safely away. In the drawings, 9' indicates the mat ter filed, it being shown as described. To remove the papers, the plate e, is drawn out, so as to spread the pockets, and then moved laterally, in a way which will place the pockets out of alignment, and make it possible for the operater to see the inscriptions wall the matter filed at once, and thereby ascertain the place of the papers sought.

When the desired papers have been found they may be removed from the pocket in which they are contained and the spring allowed to fold the pockets as before. In Fig. 4 I have shown the documents filed as partly in place, and it will be understood that the size of pockets fmay be varied at will, and will be made in practice large enough to contain all the papers in a lawyers case, or all the mail of a post-office, which occurs under a letter of the alphabet. The pockets are located apart, and kept so by cords f, in order to permit their being moved past each other when being examined, as before explained.

Owing to the pivotal relation of the body b, it may be swung to assume various positions, such as will be most convenient to the operator, and especially such a position that will permit the pockets to be simultaneously exposed, as before explained. It will be seen that by my invention papers of all kinds may.

be safely filed and preserved, and that they may be reached with little trouble and in a short time.

The invention may be used in post offices, counting rooms, lawyers offices, or in fact in any place where papers are kept, whether they are to be only temporarily stored, or permanently filed. I consider my improvements especially adapted for use in general-delivery post offices, and when so used may be made in a case to contain a large number of boxes. This will, however, be understood.

Having described my invention, what I claimis-- 1. A file case comprising the combination of aspring-actuated roller, a series of pockets adapted to have the matter to be filed placed within them, a cord connected to the roller at one end and a plate located beyond the pockets and having the remaining end of the cord connected thereto, whereby the pockets are normally compressed against each other, and whereby they may be separated at will, substantially as described.

2. A file case comprising the combination of a spring-actuated roller, pawl-and-ratchet mechanism whereby the roller may be held at any number of revolutions, aseries of pockets adapted for the reception of the matter filed, and connected to each other and to the roller, whereby they are normally folded against each other, and whereby they may be opened and held so at will, substantially as described.

3. A file case comprising the combination of a spring-actuated roller, pawl-and-ratchet mechanism whereby the roller may be held at any number of revolutions, aseries of pockets within which the matter to be filed is placed, cords secured to the pockets, whereby they are prevented from moving out of position, a plate arranged beyond the pockets, and a second cord connected to the spring-roller and to the plate, whereby the pockets may be folded against each other or extended at will, substantially as-described.

4. In a file case, the combination of series of pockets adapted to receive the matter to be filed, a cord movable through the pockets and having its end incapable of passing the pockets, and a spring connected to the cord and having a tendency to draw the cord toward the spring, whereby the pockets are kept normally in engagement with each other and whereby they may be extended at will, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aifixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID A. DRAKE.

Witnesses:

A. G. SCOTT, E. H. MCCLUBE. 

